Timing device



V. TRAD TIMING DEVICE Dec. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 13, 1947 INVENTOR KOZOT HCLCZ BY ATTORNEYS,

V. TRAD TIMING DEVICE Dec. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1947 INVENTOR Vicfo-r Yrad BY ATTORNEYS,

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMING DEVICE Victor Trad, Deal, N. J.

Application March 13, 1947, Serial No. 734,525

9 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices, particularly such asv are used on coin operated electrical appliances.

Ln the coin operated appliance industry it is often necessary to provide a, means for supplying electrical current to. the appliance for a specific period Of time. This timing means must be of simple construction but capable of standing up under prolonged use.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a coin responsive ti Another objectof this invenuon is. to provide a substantially noiseless timing device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a imer havin a minimum number of moving parts.

A featureof this invention is its low operating cost.

Another feature of this invention is its compact structure, which makes usable wtih small appliances.

A further feature of this invention is its adjustability by means which the operating time cycle may be varied.

Another feature of this invention is its bi-metal construction, which enables the appliance to operate while the timer is heating up and while it is cooling off.

The. invention consists. of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, asherein ustra ed. scr b d n a m d:-

' In the accompanying drawings, forming. part hereof, is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters. designate corresponding parts, and in, which:

Figure 1, is an exploded View of a preferred em bodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in perspectiveof the front late of he m Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear view in perspective of theswitch contact leaf shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is airont elevation of the timer.

Figure .5 isa longitudinal section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction indie gib h a r ws.

Figure. dis a view. taken on linea -6' of Figure 5, looking in thedirectionind-icated by. the arrows.

Figure? is a.view takenon line??? of Figure 5, loolging in the direction indicated by the. arrows.

Figure 8 is aview takenon line 8 -8 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure '9 is a view in perspective of the a-ssein bled-timer.

Figure 10-is a side elevation of thetirner, shown as actually installed.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, il indicates a chute-like member for receiving a coin (not shown). This chute is preferably formed from a single thin sheet of metal i2, bent upon itself, as shown in Figure 1. A triangular member I3 is incorporated within the chute l I to direct the coins toward a switch. The extending portions l4, l5 of the metal sheet l2 are bent into a spaced parallel relationship; with each other. The lower corner of the left-hand edge i is slit at id, and the metal flared outwardly to form a tripping arm H. The upper corners of the extending portions i l, :5 are pierced at l8, l9.

The chute member I l is attached to a block 20 (shown in detail in Figure 2) secured to-the front of the timer mechanism. This block ispierced and internally threaded at 25 to receive the machine screws 22 (see Figures 4 and 9) which hold the chute II to the timer. The chute H is thus able to swing upward, pivoting upon the said screws 22. A short length of spring wire 23 (shown in Figures 4, 9 and 10) however, normally holds the chute ll against the front plate 24 of the timer, as shown in Figures 5 and 9.

The block 20, in addition to supporting the chute H, holds a switch comprising a dielectric leaf 25 mounted upon a flat sprin 26' secured to the said block 20. The bottom of theleaf 25 is provided with a conducting bar 27, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The spring 25 is connected to the bar 2'! for a hereinafter described purpose. Two terminals 28, 23 are provided on the block 20 at a point which will cause them to be joined when the bar 21 is pushed against them. The position of the flat spring 26, when th timer is not in use, is such as to hold the bar Zlaway from the contacts 28, 29.

A snap switch (not shown) may be substituted for the above construction, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The front plate 2% is pierced to allow a shaft 30 to pass therethrough, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. A cammed lever 34 is attached to the end of'the shaft 30. The said shaft 36 extends into the mechanism of the timer and is the actuating member of the device, as shown by the longitudinal section of Figure 5.

The rear of the front plate 24, shown in Figure 6, supports a momentary contact or microswitch 32, havinga small push button 33 thereon. The operation of the switch 32 issuch that it permits the flow of current only while the push but ton 33is released. A thin leaf of metal is pivotally mounted at 35 upon a stud 35, set. into the plate 24, Theleaf 3 4 is engag-eable by. a. small 3 stud 31, set into the shaft 30. When the stud 31 bears against the leaf 34 it presses upon the push button 33, thereby opening the switch 32.

The terminals 38, 39 of the switch 32 are connected to the circuit so that one terminal 38 is soldered to one of the lines 40 leading from the power source, and the other terminal 39 is joined to one of the wires 4!, leading to the appliance (not shown). The remaining two lines 4243 are connected to a common terminal 54, hereinafter more particularly described.

A terminal 45 is secured above the switch 32 and is in electrical contact with the spring member 26. This terminal i5 is connected, by means of a screw 47, an internally threaded sleeve es, and a second screw 49, to one end of a heating coil 50, as shown in Figure 5. The heating coil 50 is incorporated within a sinuous groove 5! in an asbestos plate 52, which forms the rear plate of the timer and is shown in detail in Figure '7. The other end of the heating coil 59 is similarly connected to the common terminal it by two screws 53, 5t and a sleeve 55.

A perforated mica sheet 56, best shown in Fig- '59 is crimped to a machine screw 55 which is fastened to a metal support plate 8 i.

The support plate 5!, indicated :by dotted lines in Figure 8, is provided with an arcuate slot 62 at the upper end thereof. A small screw 63 passes through this slot and enters the asbestos supporting member 64, upon which the plate 6i rests. Since the support plate ti is centrally pierced to receive theshaft 3D therethrough, the said plate Bl may be rotated about the shaft 30 by loosening the screw 53. In this manner, the timing cycle of the mechanism may be changed, as a result of the moving of the end 59 of the bi-metal 5T. 7

Another form of adjustment is provided in this timing mechanism by reason of the construction of the cammed lever 3 I. This lever is held to the shaft 30 by a screw 55. By loosening the screw 65 and changing the position of the cam 3!, the timing cycle may be altered, as hereinafter shown.

When the timer is assembled, as shown in Figures 5 and 9, a heat insulating cover 66 is placed 'therearound. This cover 65, shown in Figure 10, operates to lengthen the timing cycle, as described below.

The timing device is activated. by dropping a coin into the chute H. The coin is forced toward the switch on the front of the block 28, thereby closing the said switch. Power is thus supplied to the appliance and the heating coil 5!! at the rear of the timer. As the heat from the coil 50 warms the bi-metal 5! it causes the helix to expand and rotate the shaft 30 to which it is attached. The shaft 30 thereby turns the stud 31 mounted thereon. The stud 3'! releases the leaf 34 which in turn allows the push button 33 of the microswitch 32 to snap out. The microswitch 32, which is in parallel with the switch on the front of the block '28, is thereupon closed. The shaft 36 continues to turn until the cammed lever 3| strikes the trip arm I l on the" chute l l.

The lever 31 lifts the chute i l, as shown in dotted lines in Figures 5 and 10, and releases the coin. This relieves the pressure upon the spring heating coil circuit is thus opened and it cools. The microswitch 32, however, is closed and the appliance (not shown) continues to receive power. When the bi-metal '51 cools to the extent that the shaft 39 resumes its original position, shown in Figure 1, the microswitch will be opened and the timing cycle completed. The cover 65, previously described, prolongs the timing cycle by retarding the cooling rate of the bi-metal 51. This efi'ects an economy of operation of the timing mechanism.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, means comprising a switch to activate the said element, means comprising a bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and a cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation and means comprising a second switch in parallel with the first switch, and a stud held by the said shaft and adapted to close the said switch to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

2. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, means to activate the said element, means comprising a bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and a cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation, means adapted to retard the rate of cooling of the bi-metallic strip and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

3. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, means to activate the said element, means comprising a bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and a cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation, means consisting of a heat insulating case surrounding the said timer adapted to retard the rate of cooling of the bi-metallic strip and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

4. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, coin responsive means comprising a switch to activate the said elenient, adjustable means to control the period of said activation and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

5. In a timing device for electrical appliances, aheating element, coin responsive means comprising a switch to activate the said element, means comprising a helically wound bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and a cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

6. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, means to activate the said element, means comprising an axially adjustable plate supporting a helically wound bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and a cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

7. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, means to-activate the said element, means comprising a helically wound bimetallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and an axially adjustable cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation and means comprising a switch cooperating with the activating means to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

8. In a timing device for electrical appliances, a heating element, coin responsive means comprising a switch to activate the said element, means comprising an axially adjustable plate supporting a helically wound bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and an axially adjustable cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation and means comprising a second switch in parallel with the first switch to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

9. In a timing device for electrical appliances,

a heating element, coin responsive means comprising a switch to activate the said element, means comprising an axially adjustable plate supporting a helically Wound bi-metallic strip, a shaft attached thereto and an axially adjustable cammed arm held by the said shaft to control the period of said activation, means consisting of a heat insulating case surrounding the said timer adapted to retard the rate of cooling of the bi-metallic strip, means comprising a second switch in parallel with the first switch, and a stud held by the said shaft and adapted to close the said switch to prolong the operation of the said appliance for the duration of the heating cycle.

VICTOR TRAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,348,746 Schepeler Aug. 3, 1920 1,795,013 Denman Mar. 3, 19 31 

